Socpo puts priority on ending racism at work

Socpo
will lead the way in adopting the anti-discriminatory measures of the Race
Relations (Amendment) Act which came into force this week, claimed Socpo’s new
president at the society’s annual conference.

Speaking
in Brighton last week, Keith Handley said, “I want to encourage more black
colleagues to join Socpo. Currently, it stands at 5 per cent, which is not
enough. I am looking to use membership expansion to address this.”

Socpo
is drawing up plans to increase its membership from 500 to 5,000.

Handley
criticised the record on ethnic minorities. He said, “I do not think Socpo or
local government responded positively enough to the MacPherson report.

“There
seemed to be a perception that local government’s house was in order and that
the report was aimed at other bodies. Well you take your eye off the race ball
at your peril, and Socpo must not do that.”